Creative and Critical Thinking Working Together

What Is Creative Thinking?

In this brief article, I aim to introduce you to an innovative method of thinking and problem-solving that merges creative and critical thinking. These two approaches are distinct, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. By combining them, you can harness the benefits of both.

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?First, let’s explore creative thinking, what it entails, and how we can cultivate it. The term most commonly used to describe creative thinking is “think outside the box.” I prefer to view it as finding new and different ways to approach a situation. Seek out the less obvious solutions that others may overlook. Yes, it involves thinking outside the box, but it can encompass much more.

Consider an example of creative thinking. Suppose you recently purchased a new house. After covering the down payment and necessary renovations, your budget is tight. Your neighborhood association sends a notice that your yard needs to be redone to match the overall landscape. With no funds available for landscaping, what can you do?

You need to think creatively. The straightforward solution is to do it yourself, but that requires time, money, and skills you might lack. Some inventive options could include contacting a budding landscaping company to see if they’re willing to revamp your yard for free or at a reduced cost in exchange for displaying their sign as advertisement. If you possess web design skills, you could barter those in return for their services. Think outside the box to devise a creative solution.

To activate your creative thinking, ask yourself some intriguing questions:

-??????? Start with “What if?” Keep it very open-ended. In this initial brainstorming phase, no idea is too outlandish or impossible to consider. While the idea itself might be impractical, it could spark another thought leading to the ideal solution.

-??????? Another excellent question is “What else?” This encourages brainstorming and expanding on current ideas.

Lastly, stimulate creativity by introducing an unusual concept. For example, imagine you have no income for the next year. How would you manage, and how would you cover your home and yard expenses? The solution might involve taking on a side hustle like graphic or web design for local small businesses. This could lead you to realize that you can fund the landscaping by dedicating a few weekends to freelance projects.

What Is Critical Thinking?

Another essential problem-solving skill is critical thinking, which differs significantly from creative thinking. The focus here is on logical thinking, utilizing information and data collected. You begin by gathering information, then sorting and analyzing it to find the optimal solution. The goal is to be as objective and unbiased as possible, making the best judgment based on the available information.

For instance, if you are a project manager for a construction firm, you would gather data on the necessary materials for the job site and then procure them at the best price available. A more relatable example might be the critical thinking involved when you’ve misplaced your car keys. You would search the house systematically, perhaps retracing your steps until you find them. This small-scale example illustrates the essence of critical thinking.

The main advantage of critical thinking over creative thinking is its tendency to yield practical solutions. While creative thinking can lead to fun and imaginative ideas, they may not always be feasible or desirable to implement.

Let me demonstrate with an exaggerated example to make my point. Suppose you want to lose 25 pounds. A creative thought might be that the average human leg weighs about 26 pounds, so removing a leg would result in an immediate weight loss of over 25 pounds. While creative, it’s clearly absurd.

Switching to critical thinking, you would gather information on various weight loss programs and understand the biological processes involved in burning body fat. Consequently, you might decide to practice intermittent fasting, eat more whole foods, and start taking daily walks. This approach is much more practical, isn’t it?

Consider other times you've used critical thinking to make significant decisions. Perhaps it was choosing the right health insurance or 401K plan. Maybe it was selecting a house in a good neighbourhood with excellent schools for your children that fit within your budget. It could have been deciding whether to make a major career move or relocate to a different part of the country. We use critical thinking skills frequently, and they serve us well in various aspects of life, including home, school, and work?

How to Combine the Two and Come Up with Creative Solutions That Work

Now, we get to the fun part. In this section, we’ll explore how to merge creative and critical thinking to devise innovative, practical solutions. By combining these approaches, we can leverage their strengths while mitigating their weaknesses.

Let’s revisit the weight loss example to illustrate this in action. The goal is to lose a significant amount of weight. While cutting off a limb is obviously not an option, it highlights some key points: setting a specific weight loss target and a timeline for achieving it. This might lead you to track weight loss in interesting increments (like losing the equivalent weight of three packs of butter) or to set a deadline for shedding a certain number of pounds. It might even prompt you to consider surgical options like liposuction or stomach stapling. Even if these aren’t right for you, including and considering them can spark useful ideas.

Researching weight loss surgery might lead you to consider alternatives like fasting. At the very least, it can motivate you to avoid surgery by finding other effective methods.

In this scenario, we began with creative thinking and transitioned to critical thinking. We got a comprehensive view, gathered extensive data, and then logically analyzed it to find the best solution. This method is highly effective.

Alternatively, you can start with critical thinking and then switch to creative thinking to generate more alternatives and data sources. Afterward, return to critical thinking to evaluate what will ultimately work best.

By combining these two thought processes, we can generate new and effective solutions. Sometimes, we might discover that the traditional method is still the best option. However, we can only determine this after examining it critically and creatively, considering all possible alternatives.

This is why merging critical and creative thinking is such a powerful strategy. Try it the next time you face a complex problem. Since switching between creative and analytical thinking can be tricky at first, it’s helpful to start with creative brainstorming. Grab a notebook and jot down as many ideas as you can. Take a break, then move on to the critical thinking phase: gather more data, organize it, analyze it, and come up with a workable solution. Repeat as needed until you find an effective solution.

The more you practice combining these thinking skills, the better you’ll become at it. Soon, this process will become a natural part of how you approach problem-solving.?

Your comments to this article are always welcome.

To your success.

Michael

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